Federal Slat water fishing license coming?

[jeffsod]

As far as the Charter boats they would have to do it like FL and that is no license required if you are with fishing on a charter boat. My guess is they hit the captain up for one that covers the season. Then in FL if you are a resident NO license required if I remember correctly while fishing from shore but is required from a boat. You need a snook stamp to keep a snook in season from either shore or boat.

Personally I agree the money will end up in the general fund if they can pull it off in which case I would be againest it.

I think it is bound to happen sooner or later though.

[JohnR]

Without some serious discussion and significant user (read recreational) input and oversight, a big fat NO. I seriously doubt that NMFS and the Bush Administration will have the history and detailed knowledge necessary to put together a license program that is fair, well organized, and further improves the issues regarding rec fisheries. Not at the level that we do now when dicsussing this at the state level. There are also far too many questions that need to be answered before making a definitive judgement. So at this point I still say no, not a good idea, but need SIGNIFICANT more info from the feds...

[macojoe]

NO LICENSE, NO WAY NO HOW!! WHAT WE GOING TO SEE OUT OF IT?? I WILL TELL YOU NOTHING!!

[Backbeach Jake]

I feel that my fishing tab is high enough already. Right off the bat , your gear costs 10percent more than irt should through taxes. That's rods, reels ,line hooks, lures and anything else you drag to the water with you. Then you got your beach permits, clamming permits, etc. I think it's time the Government throttles back on the money grab and starts enforceing a little more agressively. I can't remember the last time I had a "field interview" with the EPO's No Saltwater license.

[Mike P]

So, just keep on bitching about diminishing access, locked gates and all the rest of the stuff you all keep bitching about.

Because until politicians know exactly how many votes they're pissing away by screwing saltwater fishermen, the screwing is going to go on and on. Their only thing politicians do better than taking graft is counting noses. Your noses aren't getting counted.

Let me tell you something--here in NY, you go upstate, you find miles of state-owned access to fishing on every major trout stream, and thousands of acres of state hunting lands in almost every county. You come to Long Island, you find maybe 4 miles total of state-owned beachfront you can take a 4x4 (and even that's being threatened by a new bill in Albany), you find maybe 8 or 9 state owned parking lots where you can park at night and walk in to fish, and maybe one or two state boat ramps, some of which you can't use after 11 PM. You think that maybe, MAYBE the reason for this difference is that the goddam politicians in Albany know, to the exact number, how many fishing, hunting and combined sportsmen licenses get sold every year, and they have no effin' clue as to how many people actually fish in salt water?

[pal156]

I already have too many licences,for boating,fishing, work etc.

[Nebe]

new liscenses, higher property tax's and otehr misc. taxes is the price we are paying for federal income tax cuts... sorry but this is a clasic example of how politicians bait then switch. Sure, we'll lower your income taxes.... but were going to raise your property taxes, and raise anything else we think we can make money off of...

sorry for the soapbox gospil